AKS starts with a love of teaching. I discovered that I love teaching in 1982. I was enrolled in small engine repair in the North Montco Vo-Tech School in Montgomery County, PA. After we had our theory sessions one guy in particular, Bill, always had a difficult time grasping the concepts and how the parts worked together. I was routinely assigned to help Bill and was successful. The charge that I got when Bill could explain back to me what I had been teaching him convinced me to drop out of vo-tech and prepare for college to become a teacher. The “what” of teaching was a road a under construction, and continues.I taught whitewater canoeing with the Appalachian Mountain Club when I was still in high school, went to college to become a math teacher and graduated in industrial arts. In my career I have taught grades 5-12 and graduate school. I have taught woodshop, metal shop and power technology. As my teaching career evolved I taught STEM, technology and engineering and coached a robotics team. What fun it was to see how all of those things (except possibly the canoeing) apply to firearms. It’s all about systems, how parts work together to achieve a goal. Firearms are a passion that developed later in my life, so I remember how it can be intimidating as a newcomer. Finding someone friendly and knowledgeable is often what people need to break down a barrier of mystery and intimidation. Once you overcome that barrier, you find that the firearms community is a VERY friendly and welcoming group of incredibly diverse individuals. As someone who loves teaching, loves people and loves firearms, I would love to be that link for you